Thank You Squidoo

The Journey of a new Squidooer

My experience with Squidoo has been extremely positive. And I want to share what has been going on with my lenses and how I got to where I am today. I can't stress enough how easy it has been to express myself with the many tools here and the support from fellow lensmasters. I have never felt more a part of an online "community" as I do here at Squidoo. In my opinion, this place is far better than MySpace. You get so much more, it's easy to use and a bit more "mature" if you know what I mean. If you are looking for a unique experience to share your ideas, passions and opportunies, then look no further. Squidoo is the place for you!

About Squidoo

Squid-What?

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In the Beginning....

It all started on February 12, 2008. I read in the support forums at CafePress about a site called Squidoo. I have never heard about Squidoo before and wasn't really sure what it was all about and if it was anything I would be interested in. So I checked it out. Lenses? Do-whatta-who? I had no idea, but I saw Free on there and thought why not? And so I started my first Lens about Whippets.

Why Whippets? Well that's easy. I know a lot about whippets. I own a whippet. I am passionate about whippets. And the real purpose of my lens was to try to increase traffic to my WhippetTalk forums. Squidoo was another means to get more links out there in the vast internet and direct traffic to my site. Now it seems more like the other way around!

So I threw some stuff into the lens using the "modules" Squidoo provides and hit publish. Now, mind you, on February 12, 2008, it wasn't a pretty sight. So I sort of forgot about the whole thing and put it on the back burner. It wasn't until sometime in April 2008, I decided to have a look at it again. That's when I really dove into it and found out what all this Squidoo stuff was all about.

Some tinkering and links to my new and improved Secret World of Whippets and it rose to the top 100 in Animals and so far the best rank in the overall system was 233! That's within 2 weeks of really diving in and putting some effort to make it a great lens. How's that for positive reinforcement?

Wait, Wait! You can make money from a lens?

Bonus! I learned that you can make money from a lens. Now, I'm not looking to quit my job and buy my own Island in the Bahamas or anything. But any nickel will help to offset the cost of my WhippetTalk Forums. My forums are free to join and Advertisement Free so I take donations from the membership to keep it up and running. Wouldn't it be great to NOT have to beg for money every year from the members? Okay, so far my earnings (clicks to ads) are at 15 cents. Hey! It's 15 cents I didn't have before. Anyway, the purpose of my Secret World of Whippets lens was not to make money, but to write about something I want other people to see and learn about and then come to my forums.

How do you earn money?

Squidoo really does a lot of the work for you. All lenses have Ads running on them and if a surfer clicks out from your lens via an Ad, you get some moo-lah.

Squidoo also provides YOU with these great Modules that will help you find products to sell from Amazon, CafePress, eBay, and more.

More about Money here.

But hey, let's say you aren't in it for any cash. Do you have a charity you support or want to support? You can choose to have your earning go to Charity. And donations are tax deductible you know.

Here's a List of Charities.

SquidU Forums!

New Squids don't have to swim alone.

Listen, I know how intimidating the whole Squid thing can be. There are a lot of lenses out there and maybe you aren't too internet savvy or good with computer programming hocus pocus poof you have a webpage thing. I was there. That's why I sort of abandoned the whole project for a while. I just wasn't sure I was up for hours upon hours of trying to figure out how to do this and how to do that. I did some looking around and getting used the whole Squidoo idea from what other lenses looked like. I found a link that led me to the SquidU Lensmasters Forums.

The Lensmasters Forums is like finding sunken treasure. There is a wealth of knowledge there. From the moment I introduced myself, I was welcomed with open tenticles (yeah, okay, I'll stop with the squid puns). The members in the forums are very helpful and will point you in the right direction. No question is too small or stupid. Everyone is willing to help. And you will learn about some features and tricks to make your lens stand out from the crowd. I don't know why more people don't join the forums? It's really a nice place to discuss with people you already have something in common with - a lens or two, or fifty!

Is Squidoo the new MySpace?

"In my opinion, this place is far better than MySpace. You get so much more, it's easy to use and a bit more "mature" if you know what I mean."

Do you Squidoo?

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The Secret World of Whippets gets a Purple Star!

Awarded on May 12, 2008

So imagine how shocked I was for getting a notice in my email that I was awarded a Purple Star for my Whippet lens! My first thought was, "What's a purple star?" I still see myself as a Newbie and not really a Master of the lens thing with only a handful of lenses in my account. What could this be? And as of today, it's still a mystery to me. It's one of those things that are still "To Be Announced."

Squid Badges are another perk you get here if you put together a good lens. I'm working on my Giant Squid (50 lenses) status and if things keep going the way there are, I expect to reach that goal by 2012! LOL

Random acts of kindness on Squidoo!

Since I have been here and by participating in the SquidU forums, I have seen several kind acts and lot of support for our Lensmasters. Please post your observations and examples of what you seen or experienced here.

ElizabethJeanAllen

Squidoo has been good to me and I would like to add my thanks. Everyone has been so helpful. There are few communities like that anymore, online or in the real world.
Wonderful tribute.
Lizzy

Posted September 20, 2008

aj2008

Lovely lens 5* - by a like minded Squidooer. This is a lovely community to belong to.

Posted September 04, 2008

Jewelsofawe

Love this lens! 5***** I like the way you wrote your story of finding squidoo and becoming more of a squidooer..

Posted August 11, 2008

poddys

The community here has been very good with lots of good tips, and everyone is very charitable. I was going to point out Chef Keem too - a perfect example of the truly nice people that are here - why can't the rest of the world be full of Squiddies!

It's a very help each other community, and also self protecting from the spammers and those who not only try to take away our hard earned money, but who try to bring down the system. It's so nice to get lots of help, to be able to give help, to make new friends, and to have an enjoyable place to drop into every day.

Posted August 04, 2008

Tiddledeewinks

I have a Giant Squid badge and I love seeing all those yellow stars on my lenses, but now I want some purple ones, (I wonder what those are about)? Squidoo has set up some nice incentives that push us to work and think even harder!

Posted July 26, 2008

Tiddledeewinks

I love this Squidoo community. I'm a Giant Squid now. My daughter told me about Squidoo, and now our whole family has about 700 lenses under our belt between us, and no end in sight! Nice lens. I LOVE dogs. See a memorial to my Old English Sheepdog at the lens> DoAnimalsGoToHeaven.

Posted July 26, 2008

flowergardener

Oh Whippet! I just logged in and saw I had a comment from you on one of my lenses. You've a beautiful page here! I'd be very honored if I could post yourlink on my Squidoo Love lens as a 'thank-you' squidoo link. Honey, you just do what you want to do with my links, ok? I'd dearly love to meet you in person and meet your very best friends, the Whippets. Being a fierce dog lover, it intrigues me, having never met your favorite breed. Gods Love and mine, Deb

Posted July 22, 2008

Joan4

Absolutely agree! I was also deeply touched by the forum's support of Deb in the flood crisis. I am proud to be part of this caring community!

Posted July 22, 2008

WhippetTalk

Today I saw something that was by far, the most touching and kind act I have ever seen in any online community. This is a perfect example of what I mean by saying that Squidoo Lensmaster are a special group of people and I liken it to an online "family."

Deb the Flowergardener has been through a lot lately with all the flooding and bad weather in Iowa. Her beautiful garden has been under water, her basement as well. The damage so bad, that FEMA had agreed to help her out. Deb is a beautiful person who is always there to encourage new people and help them along. She keeps a positive outlook and has created many lenses that bring a smile to your face and a warmth to your heart. Her words of inspiration are always there. See how Deb is getting help from the Squidoo Community.Click to see the post.

Thank You ChefKeem for bringing the idea to our attention!

Posted July 10, 2008

If you learn anything here today.....learn this.

Squidoo is free and fun. Just start a page about something you love to talk about. The rest will fall into place.

So Thank You Squidoo.....

Thank you for providing a great place free of charge.

Thank you for the tools and modules for making it easy to create.

Thank you for the support with forums and tutorials.

Thank you to the Squidoo Community (Lensmaster Forums) for the help and support as well.

Thank you to the Lensmasters who have visited and commented.

Thank you Squid Angels for your blessings.

Thank you for inviting me to be a Squidoo Activist.

Thank you for my Squid Angel Wings!

Thank for making my Forever 27 Lens Lens of the Day on October 1, 2008!

This is a really great place to be a part of. I am very happy I found it.

Thank You to These Lensmasters!

There have been so many people who have helped me along my way. And many of these same people have shown a lot of kindness and support for the Community. These people are what help define what Squidoo is really about.

Do you want to Thank Squidoo too?

Tell us about your Squidoo experience and why you love Squidoo. Then place your Thank You notes here! Only positive comments will be accepted.

Not a Squidoo Lensmaster yet? Get your account here!

Jewelsofawe

I love squidoo too!

Posted September 24, 2008

Louis_Dubois

I love Squidoo because it provides a great creative outlet thats also fun and easily profitable!
Everyone I've met on squidoo are Great!

Posted September 22, 2008

rms

Thank you for creating this great lens! I couldn't even begin to tell you all the acts of kindness I've seen here at Squidoo. I'd need to take up your entire lens!

Posted September 02, 2008

poddys

Thanks Squidoo for taking up so much of my time (just kidding...), thanks for helping me make such good friends. 5***** for a great "make you feel good" lens.

Posted August 04, 2008

Tiddledeewinks

I even like those cute security words Squidoo has.

Posted July 26, 2008

Add your Squidoo Lens Here

If you have a lens about how much you love Squidoo or about how addicted you are to Squidoo, please share it with us! See what the Squidoo Community can do for you. Or better yet, what you can do for the Squidoo Community.